70 
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 
broken through, however, by three large rivers, to the Ilurunui 
and Taramakau. The interesting fact that nearly all the waters 
flowing from these western ranges, as well as the principal rivers 
rising in the Spencer mountains, fall into the sea on the West 
Coast, and form considerable rivers, whilst we scarcely meet any 
but small streams flowing from these chains towards the east, and 
uniting themselves with the streams running in the meridional 
fissure, proves that this island, as my distinguished friend Dr. F. 
Ilochstetter first pointed out, is rising on the eastern side, and 
sinking on the western, the axis of equilibrium passing through 
its centre. In the geological part of this report I shall dwell at 
length on this interesting subject. 
A t the western side of the south and south-western continuation 
of the Maruia plains rises a high pyramidal mountain of the same 
altitude as the peaks of the Victoria range, to which Mr. J. 
Mackay has given my name. It is at the north-western base of 
this mountain that we must seek for the sources of the Inangahua, 
the last large tributary of the Buller before it enters the sea, and 
which joins the Buller about twenty miles from its mouth. The 
waters of the Inangahua are increased by those of the Waituhu, 
having its sources near the head of the Buhu, a small stream 
falling into the Maruia, and of another stream which I called the 
Brown G-rey, and which unites with the Grey where the latter 
enters the southern continuation of the Maruia plains, after 
having broken through the slaty chains at the eastern side of it. 
The Inangahua is further increased by the Awarau, its own most 
important tributary, which rises in the Victoria range, and brings 
down from that wild rugged nucleus of mountains, as well as from 
the western chain through which it breaks in its course, a very 
considerable body of water. Below the confluence of the Matiri 
and Buller, the mountains on both sides close in towards the river, 
and form in places, where their spurs run down to the water’s 
edge, steep and densely wooded gorges, through which the river 
runs in deep narrow channels. After flowing seven miles further 
it receives the Maruia, and, piercing through the mountain chains, 
forms many falls and rapids. This renders it impossible to ascend 
it beyond this point with a canoe, which in summer time can 
easily be done as far as the junction of the Inangahua. On its 
northern side several streams enter from the Lyell range, amongst 
which the most important is one which I have named the Lyell, 
tailing into the mam river eight miles west of the Maruia 
junction. 
The \ alley of the Inangahua, or Oweka plains, forms part of the 
level country of the Grey. The open country begins near the 
Mokihmui, where it consists m great measure of low hillocks, and 
] , Slx mdes broad > running m a south-south-west direction towards 
the coast where near Lake Brunner, it becomes twenty miles 
ac, an consists of terraces covered with grass and scrub, and 
